Held at The Stationers Hall. A Grade I listed building, close to St Paul’s Cathedral.

Upon arriving we were asked to show our invites and then led up the stairs in the beautiful historic building of Stationer’s Hall. We were then shown into a large room where others were gathered and waiters were holding trays of drinks.

Time to go into the hall and sit at our allocated places at the tables.

Menu

Starter

Kentish Peas

Garden Pea Mousse, Cumbria Ham,

Confit Lemon, Honeydew Melon

Main Course

Gressingham Duck

Pam Roasted Breast, Fondant Potatoes,

Cherries, Glazed Cabbage

Vegetarian Option

Butternut Squash,

Mushroom and Spinach Pithivier

Fondant Potato, Cherries, Glazed Cabbage

Dessert

Summer Trifle

Pimms Jelly, Lavender Custard,

Mint & Cucumber Sorbet

Coffee & Chocolates-The Loving Cup

This ancient ceremony is based on the tradition that King Edward the Martyr was treacherously stabbed in 978AD, while drinking from a two-handed cup. Ever since, such ceremonial drinking has been accompanied with an elaborate ritual of precaution. (I will post a youtube link for you at the end of this blog).

Frederick Forsyth, Patron of The People’s Book Prize, was due to give a speech but was unable to attend. He wished us all a fun evening via video.
After dinner the categories were called out, non-fiction was first, followed by fiction, children’s, new author and Best Achievement Award. Authors in each category had to walk along the hall to the right side of the stage and wait to be told to walk onto the stage. Once on the stage author names and titles of their books were read out and the winner announced. All being televised live by Sky TV.

Winners:

Non-fiction-Carol Wyer

Fiction- Scott Caladon

Children- Rob Jones

Best First Time Author- Primary School Children

Best Achievement Award- Tim Wotton

After coffee and chocolates we had to perform the Loving Cup.

The Loving Cup

This ancient ceremony is based on the tradition that King Edward the Martyr was treacherously stabbed in 978AD, while drinking from a two-handed cup. Ever since, such ceremonial drinking has been accompanied with an elaborate ritual of precaution.

I would like to thank everyone who voted for my book, ‘Beyond My Control: Why the Health and Social Care System Need Not Have Failed My Mother’. It was a FINALIST in the non-fiction category and a lovely surprise on the night was to be SHORTLISTED for Best Achievement Award. I couldn’t have wished for more. I had been on the stage twice and each time in my head I raised a toast to my late mum, to my sister and brother, and to all of the lovely people who voted for me. Thank you.

I have received a lot of feedback from readers who have bought the book and they said how much it has helped them. I also know some people have bought the book for their relative in care or in hospital and have put it on their bedside cabinet. The book does talk about poor practices but it also talks about some great staff with very strong values and good practices.

There are a lot of fantastic staff out there and we need to praise them for the things they do well. Unfortunately there are some who do not do their job well and they need to be told. After all, if they’re not told, how can they improve?

If you would to purchase a signed copy of ‘Beyond My Control: Why the Health and Social Care System Need Not Have Failed My Mother’ please go to www.suzancollins.com